Brominated flame retardants in serum from US blood donors

Serum samples collected in 1988 from U.S. blood donors were analyzed for po lybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls (PCBs and PBBs). The levels of the PBDEs are reported for the fi rst time in serum from the U.S. population. The median concentrations and r ange of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47); 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabro modiphenyl ether (BDE-153); 2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE- 183); and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) were 1.3 (<0.8-49); 0.54 (0.13- 3.1); 0.24 (0.12-1.8); and <1 (<1-35) pmol/g lipid weight (l.w.), respectiv ely. In addition we also measured detectable levels of nine additional PBDE congeners in many of the serum samples. The median concentrations and rang es of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachloro- and hexabromobiphenyl (CB-153 and BB-153) were 190 (21-2600) and 19 (4.2-84) pmol/g l.w. The levels of PBDEs and CB-1 53 found in the U.S. samples were similar to background levels reported in the serum of Swedish hospital cleaners collected 10 years later, i.e., 1997 . The BB-153 congener measured in the U.S. samples was not found in the Swe dish samples. The difference in exposure to this congener could not be asse ssed in this study, although might be related to the 1973 BB-153 (FireMaste r BP-6) animal and human contamination incident in the State of Michigan.